Sarah and Corey were married at The Humphreys Estate in Temecula, Calif. on June 21. The bride wore a strapless straight across-neckline ball gown with a lace bodice and ruffled skirt, accessorized with her hair down in loose curls, floor-length veil, satin sash, and a pair of flats, while the groom wore a black tuxedo, accessorized with a bow tie. Bridesmaids wore long neutral chiffon dresses and carried bouquets of roses and hydrangeas. Guests were greeted with plenty of chalkboard signs that said, “So this is the miracle that we’ve been dreaming of. So this is love,” “Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale,” and “As two families become one, choose a seat not a side.” Before the ceremony, the couple opted for a first look. Fun fact: Corey was blindfolded! It took place in the garden in front of a raised gazebo. A tent was placed overhead for shade. To symbolize their unity, they even chose to combine sand. Once the license was signed, sealed, and delivered to the officiant, it was bona fide. Cocktail hour began around the pool followed by the reception. Tables were decorated with pink rosette linens, mercury glass votives and vases, gold charger plates, and picture numbers from throughout their entire relationship. In lieu of a traditional guest book, everyone was asked to share a message next to a typewriter. The first one was from the newlyweds, “It means the world to us that you are here today. Please sign our guestbook so we can treasure the memories we made here!” After dinner, the three-tiered square cake was cut and candy bar opened for grabs. It featured yogurt-covered pretzels, licorice, sour patch kids, gummy bears, lollipops, and more. At the end of the night, they exited amongst a sea of sparklers and were off to their honeymoon.

Stefanie and Trevor were married at SeaCliff Country Club in Huntington Beach, Calif. on January 18 — exactly five years after they first met! “It was really important to us to have an indoor and outdoor option since we were getting married during winter, and the weather would be unpredictable,” Stefanie said. “We got lucky, and it ended up being 80 degrees.” The bride wore a strapless sweetheart fit ‘n’ flare wedding gown, accessorized with her hair in an updo, fingertip-length veil, and a pair of satin high heels, while the groom wore a gray suit, accessorized with a matching tie and pocket square. Bridesmaids wore short pale blue chiffon dresses and carried bouquets of roses, hydrangeas, anemones, silver brunia balls, and dusty millers. The ceremony took place in the Oval Terrace overlooking a pond. “It was the most favorite part of our big day,” she said. “Our good friend and brother-in-law was officiated and performed it. He shared such a special time with us and wrote the most beautiful words that was funny, thoughtful, and exactly what my now-husband and I wanted.” Afterwards, the reception followed in the ballroom. Guests found their seats via escort cards hanging from clothespins. Tables were decorated with white linens, lantern centerpieces, and mercury glass votive candles, surrounded by silver chiavari chairs. “When I walked through the venue all decorated, I almost started to cry,” Stefanie said. “It could not have been more perfect. My vision and ideas I had been planning for all finally came to life!” Plus dinner, a four-tiered buttercream-frosted cake was cut and served for dessert. “Our DJ was absolutely amazing and did a fantastic job of orchestrating the dance floor component without being overbearing.” The newlyweds’ best advice? “Stay true to yourselves and what you want as a couple for your wedding,” she said. “There will be many people that give you opinions leading up to and on.”

Martha and Dane were married at Costanoa Lodge and Resort in Pescadero, Calif. on May 31. The bride wore a sweetheart a-line wedding gown with an art deco-inspired jeweled neckline and illusion capped sleeves, accessorized with her hair down in loose curls, baby’s breath wreath, and a pair of peep-toe flats, while the groom wore a three-piece navy blue suit, accessorized with a tie. Bridesmaids wore long chiffon brown dresses in various necklines and carried bouquets of garden roses, peonies, stock, and dusty millers wrapped in satin ribbon. Groomsmen wore button-up shirts, pants, and caps, accessorized with bow ties and suspenders. Before the ceremony, the couple opted for a first look in one of the hiking trails. Guests were greeted at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains with scenic views overlooking the Pacific Ocean bluffs. “Our parents built the chuppah we stood under at the ceremony,” Martha said. The reception took place on the terrace. Thankfully, it was heated! Wooden tables were decorated with white linens, netural napkins, vintage plates and tea cups, pedestal terrarium centerpieces, and scrabble letter sayings such as “love by the moon,” and “live by the sun” surrouned by folding chairs. Dinner was served from locally-grown meat, produce, and seafood as well as sustainable wines too. But it was the mini cake that was kept between the newlyweds only after the first dance, father-daugher dance, and mother-son dance underneath string lights. Dane was certainly not shy when it came time to cut and smash a slice into Martha’s face! Other assorted desserts were up for grabs instead like cookies and lemon bars. “We even had a bonfire every night that our friend’s played jam sessions at,” she said. Fun fact: Out-of-towners had the option of staying the night in resort rooms or even better — Douglas Fir cabins and tent bungalows.

Karisa and James were married at Serendipity Garden in Oak Glen, Calif. on May 25. ” It was a wedding fairytale venue,” Karisa said. “It had every WOW factor I was looking for with beautiful views from every angle, brand new barn that gave my pictures the cutest rustic touch, and it was all inclusive, which sold it for me. They took care of everything and that helped me be very organized!” The bride wore a lace fit ‘n’ flare wedding gown with a low back, accessorized with her short hair down in loose curls, branch wreath, and a pair of nude Christian Louboutin platform pumps, while the groom wore a tan suit, accessorized with a matching tie and pocket square. Bridesmaids wore long chiffon dresses in various necklines and carried bouquets of roses, hydrangeas, berries, and dusty millers. “My flowers were to die for,” she said. Before the ceremony, the couple opted for a first look. James’ reaction — pricesless! Guests were greeted with a chalkboard sign that said, “As two families become one, we ask that you choose a seat not a side.” The ceremony took place outside overlooking the mountains. They even rode off on a horse-drawn carriage aftwerwards! “It took everyone’s breath away,” Karisa said. The reception kicked off with dancing, obviously. “Honestly, I think about how many people danced their butts off all night,” she said. “The dance floor was packed with all of my loved ones celebrating and having the time of their lives. That made all our hard work worth it.” Tables were decorated with white linens, burlap runners, lantern centerpieces, and gold glitter numbers in picture frames. “My cake was not only the most beautiful cake I imagined, but it was also by far the most delicious I have ever had,” Karisa said. There was also a candy bar too. The newlyweds’ best advice? “Do not sweat the small stuff,” she said. “There are so many details in wedding planning. If you worry about every single detail, you will not only become a bridezilla but also take the focus off the beauty in every fun aspect of it. This happens once, so enjoy every small and large thing that this experience has to offer! Let others help you.”

Gaby and PJ were married in the bride’s parent’s backyard in Sacramento, Calif. on July 5. “We wanted a small wedding with a lot of character,” Gaby said. “The backyard was surrounded by a rustic wood fence with ivy growing up, covered in beautiful trees to shade us from the hot, hot sun, and had a built-in-bar and dance floor, and even a trampoline for the kiddos!” The bride wore a scalloped lace trumpet wedding gown, accessorized with her hair down in loose curls, while the groom wore a white button-up shirt, denim vest, and khaki pants, accessorized with a tie. Bridesmaids wore mix ‘n’ matched short orange dresses in various necklines and carried bouquets of roses, peonies, dahlias, and greenery. “I LOVED all of my do-it-yourself projects, but my favorite was my backdrop,” she said. “We knew we wanted to do something with my grandparent’s swing set, but it was over 9-feet tall and 12-feet wide. Our florist happened to be an old friend from high school, and she did a walking tour with me through the backyard and gave me the idea to cover it completely in fabric. I spent a very long time looking for and cutting up table cloths and old bed sheets from thrift stores. My mother-in-law sewed a very big plain white background, which we hung first (so you couldn’t see through when the wind blew), and the day before the wedding, my bridesmaids and I sat out in the 110 degree weather, got out our ladder, and started tying all of the individual pieces together. I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say that I was really nervous about this . . . but when it was complete . . . I couldn’t have been happier!” Fun fact: The ceremony also included the couple’s five-year-old son. “This was not only our special day, but his too,” Gaby said. Guests found their seats via a chalkboard window panel. Tables were decorated with vintage vase and vessel centerpieces, glasses, which served double-duty as favors, and mason jar candles. “In the middle of all the fun, everyone had gotten out on the dance floor and really started to let loose,” she said. “We went off to the back to just have a moment alone and look out at our family and friends, who had taken this journey with us. We watched them all laugh and just have fun, and then we danced too . . . very slowly and awkwardly to a rowdy song.”